Permaculture: Are people missing the point about the green message? Instead of cutting down our own consumption people seem more concerned about buying themselves green. Buy MORE recycled products. Buy new dual flush toilet cisterns replacing perfectly good ones, when the could put a brick in the cistern? Buying solar panels and wind turbines instead of insulating lofts, filling gaps and putting on a jumper etc. Can we ‘buy’ ourselves green?
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i think it falls on ourselves to think about where everything comes from. just because its old doesn’t mean that we cant use it again and that we have to spend money to make it better. to be honest i am not the best at being green, but i try, live in Arizona so try to conserve water, try to recycle but i am a victim of society. i am AMERICAN and that alone should speak volumes.
seems the easy way out
and is more suiteble for the wealthier
the poor at best can ACT OR THINK green and one does not need to buy a special sistern, just bend the bar of the ball valve so that it sits halfway down the box ,And it will flush half the water at no extra cost
the whole point of being green is for me And Permaculture is to use inteligence instead of money
this describes Permaculture
efficiant water use
I think you need to think both ways. Putting a brick in the toilet isn’t a great idea- it breaks down and blocks your pipes. Try a small plastic container instead. Yes, we should insulate, re-use what we can and go back a way to the ’80’s when we were thinking about this sort of thing. On the other hand, purchasing newer, energy-efficient appliances is a good idea. My oven used to have four (!) pilot lights. Now it has none. That’s a good thing. Our lightbulbs are low-energy as well- saving both energy and bills.
You’re exactly right. The key is to drop the myths and scare tactics of the special interests and look at the facts. You mentioned some specifics–here’s a counterpoint: the macro or broader view:
Shifting to a green way of doing things means economic development–in two ways. First, conservation means–or should mean–not doing without but increasing efficiency. That LOWERS costs. One small example illustrates the point: I switched to energy-efficient light bulbs. I’m not doing without anything–but my electric bill has dropped $8-10/month.
That’s money I spend on other things–which, multiplied by millions of people, means more demand for goods and services–hence more business, new jobs, etc. Economists call this the multiplier effect.
The other half of this is alternative enrgy production. That implies developing new technologies–which ALWAYS means new industries, new (and good) jobs–and economic growth.
In other words, yes–we CAN buy our way to a green world–in fact, that’s the best and easiest way to get the job done. Everyone benefits–especially the average person who will get more opportunities, better products, and ultimately cheaper energy.
Well, almost everyone. I suppose this is a disaster if you’re an oil company fat cat.
Maybe I’ll send them a sympathy card. lol